gotcha
Americaninterjection
Etymology
Origin of gotcha
A phonetic spelling representing the pronunciation of got you in continuous rapid speech
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Ms. Stefanik wasn’t trying to ask a gotcha question, she writes in the book.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026
I don’t know that Marchese was trying to play gotcha, but I think that’s how Jann answered the question on that day.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 22, 2025
Dominick’s present-day reaction to seeing the gotcha intro to “I Married a Horse” is to giggle softly, then gesture with both hands like an orchestra conductor cueing a “ta-dah!” from the brass section.
From Salon • Jan. 7, 2025
So there was no effort at gotcha here, we were just interested in incorporating it.
From Slate • Sep. 18, 2024
He gives me a gotcha look, then reaches into his front jeans pocket and pulls out a chipped conch-shaped shell.
From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
